Deaths, damage in torrential rains in north

Update:
August, 15/2016 - 09:00

|

Mường Lát district in central Thanh Hóa province was isolated by floods yesterday. Downpours and flooding have wreaked havoc in northern and north-central regions over the past few days, killing at least four people. - VNA Photo

HÀ NỘI – At least four people died, one is missing and three were injured after torrential rains swept through the northern and north-central regions over the past few days, according to the latest report from the Central Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

The downpour, triggered by an intertropical convergence zone, reached 200-400mm in some areas.

In the central province of Thanh Hóa, 200mm of rainfall and subsequent flooding was recorded in Mường Lát District yesterday, killing one person and washing away four houses, Cao Văn Cường, Chairman of the district People’s Committee said.

The district was inaccessible to transportation as several sections of National Road 15C connecting this mountainous district with other localities were eroded. More than 30 hectares of rice and other crops were damaged.

As complex rain developments are forecast, local authorities have evacuated 10 families from flood-prone areas and readied plans to minimise flood impacts and assist people.

The northern mountainous province of Lào Cai on Saturday reported one dead and one missing after torrential rains hitting the locality.

The northern mountainous province of Điện Biên reported two deaths, including two children who were swept away by downpour-triggered floods on Friday.

Three people were injured by landslides yesterday in the northern mountainous province of Yên Bái. Torrential rains and floods damaged eight houses in the province, forcing two households to be relocated immediately, and destroyed 900sq.m of rice fields and 6ha of other crops. Initial property loss is estimated at VNĐ200 million (US$9,000).

Prolonged heavy rains of more than 100mm caused landslides along many traffic routes in Hòa Bình province and destroyed trees and crops.

Thousands of cu.m of landslides on national highway No 6 crossing the Mai Châu district blocked traffic for many hours at around 4am yesterday. The highway was cleared by 1.30pm.